Hello John and Doves,
No surprise here
with yet another super variant on the world scene
now. Nu/Omicron. It was 'Nu', now it's
'Omicron'.
"The Omicron variant is notable for
the sheer number of mutations in the spike protein of the
virus....As of now, the data on the variant is very limited:
we don't currently know how readily it spreads compared to
other variants, nor do we understand the degree of
protection against Omicron offered by vaccines or past
infections."
Why
Omicron quickly became a variant of concern | Ars Technica
The Delta variant had 9 changes in
its spike protein. Omicron has 30. Mutations on
the spike protein affect how easily it can infect human
cells...among other things. (It seems a bit odd to
have 30 spike protein mutations...as this does not appear to
be random mutations over the whole viral genome.....)
So Omicron it is.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
Chance
And a UAlertsUSA.com:
|
|
|
SMS
Alert Text:
US & Canada
to impose travel restrictions on at least
seven Southern African countries in response
to new COVID-19 variant. More via email.
|
|
Supplemental
Info:
Preliminary
info from the White
House Press Office:
- On the advice of
the President's
Chief Medical
Advisor and the
Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention, the
Administration will
restrict travel from
South Africa and
seven other
countries starting on
Monday. These
include Botswana,
Zimbabwe, Namibia,
Lesotho, Eswatini,
Mozambique, and
Malawi.
- The policy was
implemented out of
an abundance of
caution in light of
a new COVID-19
variant circulating
in Southern Africa.
The WHO has now
identified this as a
variant of concern.
Our scientists and
public health
officials are
working quickly to
learn more about
this variant.
- President Biden
has promised to take
every measure
necessary to keep
Americans safe and
defeat the pandemic,
and this was a step
recommended by U.S.
government medical
experts and the
COVID-19 Response
Team.
- The policy does
not apply to
American citizens
and lawful permanent
residents. As with
all international
travelers, they must
still test negative
prior to travel.
- We are in close
contact with the
Southern African
public health
officials and
working closely with
them to understand
more.
- Approximately a
dozen countries have
taken similar
action, including
the UK and some
countries in Europe.
- Over the past 10
months, the United
States has worked
closely with
Southern Africa and
the other impacted
nations to help them
vaccinate their
populations.
- We have shipped
over 275 million
doses of safe and
effective vaccines
to 110 countries
around the world.
This includes 93.9
million for Africa
alone, and 13.3
million to the
restricted
countries.
- We've worked to
boost vaccine
manufacturing in
South Africa,
including
investments to
produce more than
500 million
single-dose regimens
in Africa for
Africa.
Regarding Canada:
Starting today, all
foreign nationals who have
travelled through South
Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe,
Botswana, Lesotho and
Eswatini or Mozambique in
the last 14 days will be
barred from entering Canada.
|
|
|
|
"US and Canada to impose travel restrictions on at
least seven Southern African countries in response to new
Covid-19 variant."
&